Is the program a good investment? Calculating out the cost of several of the different reloading manuals it seems like it is, but it really depends on how often they update the database of components in my mind...
I would not consider quick load as a replacement for reloading data from reputable sources.
Quickload is a great way to play what if without risking fingers and toes. Good for wildcat load work-ups, and other situations where data may not exist.
Computer projections are no substitute for data that was developed via lab testing.
Quote from: sqlbullet on March 19 2015 04:34:11 PM MDT
I would not consider quick load as a replacement for reloading data from reputable sources.
Quickload is a great way to play what if without risking fingers and toes. Good for wildcat load work-ups, and other situations where data may not exist.
Computer projections are no substitute for data that was developed via lab testing.
I probably phrased that a little wrong, I do have several new manuals as well as many older ones... I was really just curious if it is a good program. As a software engineer myself, I hate it when I buy a program that looks decades old and has a cumbersome interface to get to the relevant data...
It is really about the only option in internal ballistics software. Based on their website I would expect this to look VERY Windows 3.1 as far as the interface. I doubt they have updated the actual software since the 90's. The data libs, yes, but the core I doubt.
There are some screenshots on here in the reloading section of some of the outputs.
As a linux/OS X user I would love to see a good internal ballistics app in a good web interface. It is just data collection, crunching and then charts and tables. Seems perfect for an MVC app talking to a rest API. PUtting something together is on my to-do list, but unlikely to rise to the top anytime soon.
I suppose its what your after as to if its worth it or not.
To me, it not particularly accurate for pistol rounds, some powders better than others. It allows you to vary seating depths to see how pressures vary. It allows you to change barrel length to see how velocity varies. It suggests other powder choices that might keep you from spending on a sub-par powder.
I run several wildcats and it makes all the difference in the world to create safe step up loadings rather than crossing fingers and running a higher risk.
I get along fine with the interface, but it isn't exactly cutting edge. It is functional though.
Greg
I don't do any wildcatting. For the limited pipe dreaming I do I can make do with a Powley calculator.
Good information, thanks! Since I don't shot the T/C in .22 Hornet, 35 Remington, or 7-30 Waters much anymore, I guess I'll pass... I do wish I could find a reasonably priced 14" 10mm barrel for it though!
Quote from: cwall64 on March 19 2015 08:32:31 PM MDT
Good information, thanks! Since I don't shot the T/C in .22 Hornet, 35 Remington, or 7-30 Waters much anymore, I guess I'll pass... I do wish I could find a reasonably priced 14" 10mm barrel for it though!
Eagle View Arms T/C Stub and a blank from Green Mountain should be able to cover your request easy. I don't have the link for the barrel stub on my ipad or I would provide it. The nice thing is that you can have a couple of barrels made up for a stub and just swap them out by unscrewing them.
After spending some time with Quickload I've come to the conclusion that no it's not worth it. It's ridiculously expensive at $150 and too many powders are missing as well as bullets. It's easy to punch in the numbers for flat based bullets but boat tail bullets require measurements and a little math. Also the max pressure for too many cartridges are wrong including the 10mm which makes me wonder what else they've gotten wrong. The program isn't upgraded very often either and they want more money for the upgrades when they are available. If it cost $50-$75 I'd feel differently, but at $150 is beyond ridiculous. Best thing to do is download a pirated copy from piratebay for free and if you feel guilty about it then buy it if you like. It'll save you the headache of paying $150 for software only to find out it's useless for your specific bullet powder combinations.
My feelings exactly, and why I didn't jump in after talking to the Quickloads people about updates... ::)
We need a good hosted solution with a component definition model that allows mfg to easily provide performance data for a theoretical barrel.
Maybe if I ever get rich and board I will go back to school and brush up on the math and create the website.
Or maybe I will remember again and again the horrible number of variables here and just decide to buy some pressure barrels and test empirically.
The Pressure barrel is what I'd like for 10mm and 9x25Dillon performance and development. :D
To be honest it seems like the only reliable way to go.
Take this quote about the software approach
QuoteThe internal ballistics of small arms are nearly impossible to predict. Small changes in bullet construction will change how readily the bullet enters the bore. The more difficult it is to engrave the bullet, the higher the pressure grows. The greater the pressure gets to be, the faster the powder begins to burn. Pressures can and do rise unexpectedly fast. Another big factor is the primer, for it determines the initial rate of pressure rise, and thus how fast the burning accelerates. Powder lots sometimes vary greatly in burning "speed" as well.
That is from this webpage: http://kwk.us/ibsw.html
The short of the whole page is there are Powley computers, there are a couple of software modeling systems, quick load being one, and all of them are really refined for bottle neck rifle cartridges. The modeling systems do better with pistol and straight-wall rifle, but still have large margins of error. They all end with the same warning that this is just for fun and use real published load data - Which is developed in a pressure barrel.
Here's a QL run on 180 Hornaday HAP with factory load data added and some powders missing from QL.
The fill ratio and the % burned is very helpful. The list is in Velocity order.
QL is higher and lower in some cases. Ql thinks all of these are "Dangerous" pressure except Herco.
(http://home.pipeline.com/~shootzf/10mm-180.jpg)
Thanks for that layout it is a very detailed comparison. need one for the various bullet weights... 8) ;D
Quickload is as good as internal ballistic software gets, but still not very useful for handgun rounds. For rifle rounds the simulation is ridiculously accurate.
It does better with bottleneck cases. I use it for 7.62x25 Tokarev and the velocity numbers match up closely with real world chronograph results which is good because load data is next to impossible to find for this cartridge, but it's next to useless with certain cartridges such as 357 Magnum.
Funny thing is I have gotten back into rifle shooting and hunting again, so I am looking at QL again for that purpose... Man, this reloading/handloading thing sure saves money - haha!
Guess I've had a little better luck with predicting velocity out of straight walled cases, that's if I don't include any #7 low charges or ANY #9 load.
http://webcity.net/benchrest/OtherChrono/9mmAllPowders.html
(http://webcity.net/benchrest/OtherChrono/9mmAllPowders.html)